TWENTY one people have been sentenced today (Friday) following an investigation into the sale of crack cocaine and heroin across county borders using the Stratford-Stourbridge-Kidderminster train line..

A gang, with links to Dudley and Wolverhampton took the lucrative drugs trade in Kidderminster and Stratford-upon-Avon and supplied over £300,000 in total and were supplied between September 2013 and December 2014.

Today's sentencing at Warwick Crown Court was the culmination of a complex 18 month investigation led by the Serious and Organised Crime Unit of Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police.

Commencing in November 2013, the investigation, known as Operation Southall, uncovered the workings of an organised crime group which was coordinating the supply of the Class A drugs across county borders.

Detective Chief Inspector Ally Wright said: "An organised crime group from Wolverhampton saw an opportunity to make money by supplying crack cocaine and heroin in Stratford-upon-Avon and Kidderminster. It displaced established dealers and gained a foothold in order to corner the illegal drugs market in the towns. Local drug users were then recruited to facilitate the supply of the drugs."

Temporary Detective Sergeant (T/DS) Kris Shore, the officer in the case, added: "This was a highly motivated and organised scheme to pedal misery for gain. They were sophisticated in their operation using various means to bring drugs into Stratford and Kidderminster, including the use of the rail network and rotating couriers, that they thought would keep the police from their doors.

"They were wrong and today's sentences reflect the hard work and determination of the investigators to protect communities served by Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police from this sort of exploitation, the harm it causes to the drug users and the resulting crime committed to fund drug habits."

A series of early morning warrants were executed across Wolverhampton and Stratford-upon-Avon in June 2015 as part of the arrest phase of Operation Southall, which involved working closely with West Midlands Police.

T/DS Shore said: "I hope that the sentencing handed out by the courts at the culmination of Operation Southall sends out a clear message that the supply of drugs will not be tolerated.

"It is our priority to protect people from harm and bring offenders to justice and tackling illegal drug use significantly helps us to achieve this.

"We will work tirelessly to disrupt the workings of organised crime groups and make sure that those involved in illegal activity are put before the courts and made to pay for their ill-gotten gains."

The people sentenced as part of Operation Southall who had pleaded guilty are: Albert Morris, 20 years, from Crescent Road, Dudley, was sentenced to four years and two months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Christopher Cork, 52 years, from the Waterloo Road area of Wolverhampton, was sentenced to six years and eight months in prison for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine), to run concurrently.

Natasha Frazer, 34 years, from Chervil Rise, Heath Town, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to three years and four months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently and one year for a money laundering offence, also to run concurrently.

Dirk Johannes Howell, 35 years, from Kingsway Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 22 months for each of the two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine), taking into account time already served, to run concurrently with a 14 month sentence for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Peter John Goodwin, 44 years, from Bidford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, was sentenced to four years for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Robert Stefan Edwards, 51 years, from South Green Drive, Stratford, Warwickshire, was sentenced to 6 months in prison for an offence relating to as occupier /owner of a property permitted/allowed the supply of Class A drugs from the property but he was released due to time spent on electronic tagging prior to trial.

Dale Jamil Cooke, 22 years, from Cadle Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Junior Antonio Evans, 21 years, from Frost Street, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to four years eight months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

William Simon Wells, 45 years, from Lodge Road, Stratford, Warwickshire was sentenced to four years and eight months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Luke Stephenson, 28 years, from Hobgate Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to four years and six months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Terry Morris, 47 years, from Clopton Road, Stratford, Warwickshire, was sentenced to three months in prison for an offence relating to one count of as occupier /owner of a property permitted/allowed the supply of Class A drugs from the property but he was released due to time spent on electronic tagging prior to trial.

Michael Carter, 29 years, from Prosser Street, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to three years and four months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Lisimba Wilks, 35 years, from the Beckton area of London, was sentenced to four years and six months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Kelly Traynor, 35 years, from Childs Close, Stratford-upon-Avon, was sentenced to four years and eight months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Vincenzo Alexander Bottone, 46 years, from Holbrook Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, was sentenced to three years and eight months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

Tabatha Hickman, 43 years, from the Birmingham Road area of Stratford-upon-Avon, was sentenced to a two year sentence, suspended for two years, for two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine).

Mark Ashley Simons, 24 years, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

James Paul Kesterton, 35 years, from Masons Road, Stratford-upon-Avon, was sentenced to six years and eight months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroic and crack cocaine) to run concurrently and one year in prison for a money laundering offence, also to run concurrently.

Luke Allen, 22 years, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to four years and three months for each of two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. (heroin and crack cocaine) to run concurrently.

The people sentenced as part of Operation Southall who were found guilty on Wednesday 8 February after a trial are: Michael Morlan Porter, 32 years, from Adey Road, Wolverhampton, was sentenced to 20 years in prison in total for four counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine), assault, false imprisonment, an offence relating to being in possession of a communication device whilst in prison - a mobile phone, and a money laundering offence.

Mark David Gomersall, 38 years, was sentenced to a two year suspended sentence and a community order to complete 200 hours of unpaid work for two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs (heroin and crack cocaine).

Police operations against people supplying illegal drugs into local communities often rely on information supplied by the public. Anyone who suspects illegal drug activity in their neighbourhood can call police on the 101 number, or contact the anonymous Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.

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